Addiction, be it to drugs, alcohol consumption, or any other substances deeply affects not only the person who is addicted but also his near and dear ones. Sometimes, the addiction is a result of family issues causing much grief to a person, resulting in him relying on these harmful substances for momentary relief. In such a case, opting for a family program at your nearest detox center certainly helps. You can quickly look up google for the best one by typing in “alcohol detox center near me.”
Usually, the family programs at addiction treatment centers are designed to promote healing in a way that allows every family member to be heard and acknowledged. It is a thorough process, where counsellors sit with the family as a unit and help them better understand each other to eliminate the root cause of addiction in an individual. Although, this process is usually followed in outpatient alcohol rehab, and very rarely in the case of inpatient alcohol rehab.
Components of an Ideal family Therapy Model
The Drug and alcohol rehab centers that provide a family therapy after complete drug detox to ensure abstinence amongst individuals usually follow a 4-component approach. It’s as follows:
Family Engagement
The first step is to educate and enhance the presence of the entire family whose young adult is struggling. It is a process wherein family members are given a basic understanding of what their loved one is going through to make them aware of the possibilities ahead and how they can help them be themselves again. It’s also where the patient is made aware of his/her family’s concerns for them, and to help him understand that they care much more than he/she believes them to.
Relational Reframing
The second element focuses on building relationships between the patient and different family members. This helps reduce irrational attributes of the family members and inspire them to work towards their problems as a single unit. It is a very effective element for addicts to reconcile with the family they had drifted away from. It also focuses on understanding behaviors based on the different relationships amongst family members.
Family Behavior Change
The third element aims to partially, if not completely transform the attitudes and behavior of family members towards each other. The counsellors at this stage teach the family as a unit, new skills and reinforce positive behaviors that help them form stronger bonds with each other, thereby ensuring that the patient does not relapse into poor habits once again after the treatment has concluded.
Family Restructuring
This element aims to change the way a family system is governed, helping each member reassess their beliefs, family rules and general behavioral traits. Each member is made to understand family dynamics, and how these might have resulted in the individual’s problematic behavior. These intend to shift relations so that each member can guide and support one another, without interference from an outside entity. A closely bound family rarely causes the youth to follow a wrong path and become addicted, nor require them to seek the aid of alcohol rehab centers.
Benefits of the Family program
A family program helps an individual in the following ways:
- Encourages and instills better understanding and healing amongst family members.
- Provides a safe haven for the patient and everyone else to be heard as well as share their opinion freely.
- Helps patients and their families recognize negative behaviors or unhealthy relationships, and take useful steps to deal with them.
- Encourages healthier communication amongst family members and their interaction with the society as a single unit.
- Helps build more trust and dependency within the family unit.
Last Word
If one member of the family falls victim to drug abuse or alcoholism, the entire family gets affected, in more ways than are visible to the eye. It is in these situations that professional help from a reputed drug and alcohol rehab center must be sought out. Searching for the best alcohol rehab centers near me when you or a loved one is in trouble is the best way to get started. Next, identify if the problem has arisen due to family problems or whether it’s due to peer pressure. In either case, opting for the family therapy program will certainly help alleviate the issue and help the addict move on the right path in a short amount of time. To work and solve your problems with those who care for you is much better than going through the tedious process alone.
